TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Democrat Emily Gregory on Tuesday flipped the Florida legislative seat that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and defeated the Trump-endorsed GOP state House candidate.
Gregory’s win won’t change the overall control of the Florida Legislature’s Republican supermajority. But her victory in the Palm Beach County election is sure to give Democrats a much-needed jolt after years of GOP domination in the Sunshine State and even jokes from Gov. Ron DeSantis that the state party was practically dead.
Gregory, a first-time candidate with a background in public health and mental health administration who now runs a fitness center for postpartum moms, defeated Jon Maples, a financial planner who previously held a local council seat.
Back in 2024, the GOP incumbent — then-state Rep. Mike Caruso — won House District 87 by 19 points.
Democrats poured money and organizing into the House race, and the campaign focused on affordability and taxes. The contest got testy in the closing days, with supporters on both sides zinging their opponents in mailers and text messages.
The win continues a series of blue special election wins and overperformances in Florida since Trump comfortably won the state in 2024.
“This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: With year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere —including Donald Trump’s backyard,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “Floridians are tired of the chaos, corruption, and sky high prices on everything from groceries to gas and health care.”
State election records show that Trump, as well as first lady Melania Trump and Trump’s son Barron, all voted by mail in the House District 87 election. Trump requested his mail-in ballot on March 14, just days after he insisted that the SAVE America Act include limits on mail-in voting. Trump on Monday, during a stop in Memphis, referred to voting by mail as “mail-in cheating.”
Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday also battled for two other seats in the Florida Legislature, including the state Senate seat in Tampa that had been held by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. DeSantis appointed Collins last August, but he waited months before calling the special election to fill it. The Palm Beach County state House seat came open because he appointed the GOP legislator who held it to a local post.
Democrat Brian Nathan was holding on to a small lead over former state Rep. Josie Tomkow in the state Senate race. Tomkow had represented a House district in neighboring Polk County and said she would move into the district. Her decision to give up her House seat created a vacancy there that was filled by the election of Republican Hilary Holley on Tuesday.
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